Authorities on Wednesday said the spree happened Feb. 27 along Cahaba Valley Road near Doug Baker Boulevard. Credit cards, checkbooks, cash, computers, phones and guns were all stolen from the vehicles, according to a sheriff's press release. An unlocked vehicle with the keys left inside was also stolen from the area that night.

"The common theme with these thefts is that all of the vehicles that were unlawfully entered and the one that was stolen were left unlocked,'' the press release said.

In September, at least 15 vehicles were burglarized overnight, also along the U.S. 280 corridor in northern Shelby County. Those break-ins happened between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Authorities at that time said while vehicle thefts are common in a county as large as Shelby, there had been a notable rise in cases reported during the 2013 summer months. There were 41 vehicle break-ins in August, 80 for July through September, and total of 151 from January through September 2013.

Lawmen warn that vehicle thefts usually happen in populated areas such as high-density neighborhoods, apartment complexes, shopping mall parking lots, daycare drop-off areas and fitness facilities. And, they said, vehicle thefts can lead to more crime. For example, a stolen credit card can lead to fraudulent use of that card. A stolen gun can lead to an armed robbery or a shooting.

In November 2013, the sheriff's office, the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, and surrounding law enforcement agencies launched the crime prevention and awareness campaign titled, "Lock It. Hide It. Keep It." The focus of that campaign is to encourage residents to help us help them prevent property crime.

They offered this advice:

•Lock It: Lock your vehicle every time you leave it unattended and always lock your valuables in the trunk.

•Hide It: If you don't have a trunk, hide valuables under the seats, in the glove box, or other compartments within the vehicle.

•Keep It: Personal responsibility is the best prevention to safeguard personal property and to prevent becoming a victim.

The investigation into the burglary spree is ongoing. Authorities are still searching for suspects. Anyone with information about last Thursday night's thefts is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office directly at (205)669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at (205)669-9116 or through their website at www.ShelbySO.com by clicking on the "Report Criminal Activity" link and choosing the "General Information" category.